Cognitive-Motivational Determinants of Residents’ Civic Engagement and Health (Inequities) in the Context of Noise Action Planning: A Conceptual Model

Abstract

The Environmental Noise Directive expects residents to be actively involved in localising and selecting noise abatement interventions during the noise action planning process. Its intervention impact is meant to be homogeneous across population groups. Against the background of social heterogeneity and environmental disparities, however, the impact of noise action planning on exposure to traffic-related noise and its health effects is unlikely to follow homogenous distributions. Until now, there has been no study evaluating the impact of noise action measures on the social distribution of traffic-related noise exposure and health outcomes. We develop a conceptual (logic) model on cognitive-motivational determinants of residents’ civic engagement and health (inequities) by integrating arguments from the Model on household’s Vulnerability to the local Environment, the learned helplessness model in environmental psychology, the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress, and the reserve capacity model. Specifically, we derive four hypothetical patterns of cognitive-motivational determinants yielding different levels of sustained physiological activation and expectancies of civic engagement. These patterns may help us understand why health inequities arise in the context of noise action planning and learn how to transform noise action planning into an instrument conducive to health equity. While building on existing frameworks, our conceptual model will be tested empirically in the next stage of our research process.

Home as a Place of Noise Control for the Elderly? A Cross-Sectional Study on Potential Mediating Effects and Associations between Road Traffic Noise Exposure, Access to a Quiet Side, Dwelling-Related Green and Noise Annoyance

“…In this respect, our study added further evidence on how the concurrence of environmental stressors and unavailable resources can have cumulative impacts on both perceived noise control and noise annoyance. This underlines the need to contextualise potential cascades of psychological constraints and stress reactions, as illustrated by the notion of “loss cycles” related to environmental health [ 19 , 25 , 52 ], in reference to Hobfoll’s theory on the Conservation of Resources [ 65 ]. Moreover, if the location of relevant rooms at a signal-controlled intersection is an appropriate proxy for unpredictable noise events, the strong effect estimates we observed may call for a revision of noise exposure assessments that tend to solely rely on average sound pressures.…”

“…In order to substantiate our statistical analyses, we considered additional predictors of perceived noise control and noise annoyance in accordance with our recently published theoretical model on cognitive-motivational determinants of noise-related health inequities against the background of European Noise policy (END) [ 19 ]. Furthermore, our selection of predictors was guided by previous research on housing and health (see Introduction above, as well as [ 47 , 48 ]), on procedural environmental justice [ 52 ], and on noise annoyance (e.g., [ 53 , 54 ]).…”

“…These exposure characteristics are particularly pronounced in urban settings, where traffic flows are frequently disrupted (e.g., at signal-controlled intersections or due to traffic congestion on major roads). We have suggested a causal link from chronic noise exposure via perceived uncontrollability of personal noise exposure (hereafter: perceived noise control) to noise annoyance [ 19 ]. While classifying perceived noise control as a non-acoustic (psychosocial) determinant of noise annoyance [ 20 ], previous research has explained its impact on health and noise annoyance by the secondary appraisal construct (partly) in reference to Lazarus stress model [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…Thus, resources required for concentration and self-directed activities are not replenished, which translates into compromised stress recovery, restricts behavioural options and leads to a growing restoration need. Arguments from both concepts (noise-induced helplessness and restoration) allowed us to assume that socially unfavourable behavioural patterns like irritability, resignation, withdrawal, and disinterest in the neighbourhood environment are more likely to occur [ 19 ] because cognitive capacities are impaired by prolonged psychophysiological adaption to the traffic-related noise stressor [ 24 , 28 ].…”

Qualitative Assessment of Links Between Exposure to Noise and Air Pollution and Socioeconomic Status

“…Furthermore, we have not included studies relating to indoor air, thereby excluding the vast majority of workplace exposures. However, higher blood pressure was observed in traffic-police compared with other outdoor workers [13], cardiovascular disease mortality was associated with women in routine jobs [14], and anxieties related to job insecurity and traffic-related exposures may be likely to concur in residential and occupational contexts [15]. Ambient air pollution should therefore be a consideration for occupational exposure in outdoor occupations.…”